Customizable vehicle information display
A system and method for creating a customizable video display in a vehicle is provided for allowing a user to select what driving information is to be displayed. The system having a video display device fixed on the instrument panel of a vehicle, and an input device allowing users to choose what to view and the size the information will appear in, from a list of vehicle driver information. The method having the steps of providing a list of driver information from which the user may select, selecting the desired driver information to be displayed, selecting the size the information will be displayed in, and displaying the information on the video display device.
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1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a system and method for providing a customizable display of vehicle and driver information to an operator of a vehicle. In particular the invention provides for a vehicle display and an input device allowing a user to select the number and type of driver information to be displayed.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Video display devices, such as a video screen are useful for providing drivers and passengers with information relating to vehicle operation such as distance to empty, average fuel economy, and the like. Video display devices are designed to provide visual information while at the same time maintaining the driver's visibility. Video display devices are also designed in consideration of the limitations of the interior space of a vehicle. Accordingly, many displays are boxed shaped and have a relatively small size to fit automotive applications. The relatively small design leaves automotive suppliers with limited space on the display screen to display information. This in turn limits the amount of information that can be displayed. Too much information may clutter the small display area and make the information presented to the user difficult to view. Furthermore, users have different preferences as to what they want to view and these preferences may change depending upon the driving conditions. For example a user being conscience of gas prices and fuel efficiency may want to monitor the average fuel consumption one day, or want to know what the distance to empty is on another. As a result there is a need for a vehicle system displaying information that can be customizable to user needs such that the video display device does not present information which is of no interest to the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGESAccording to one aspect of the invention, a system and method for creating a customizable display of a vehicle is provided for allowing a user to select what driving information is to be displayed, and the size the information is displayed in. The system has a video display device fixed on the instrument panel of a vehicle, and an input device allowing a user to select from a list of information desired to be displayed. Sensors located throughout the vehicle gathers and monitors vehicle data, and a processor processes the information to provide information in other forms such as distance to empty, average fuel economy, current fuel economy, average speed and the like. The processor presents the data to the driver via a menu presented on the video display device. The user may simply select the data desired to be displayed via an input device, and the video display device will display them.
A method for creating a customizable display for displaying vehicle information selected by a user is also provided. The method having the steps of providing a list of driver information from which the user may select, selecting the desired driver information to be displayed, and displaying the information on a video display device.
Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, a system and method for providing a customizable display of vehicle and driver information to an operator of a vehicle having a plurality of sensors 10 (not shown) monitoring and collecting various signals regarding vehicle functions is provided. The system utilizes vehicle information gathered and processed by processors 12.
The video display device 16 is in communication with the instrument cluster 14 and other processors 12 discussed above and is controllable by an input device 22. The input device 22 is shown in
In this embodiment, the series of buttons 24 include a button 24 labeled “Menu,” one labeled “Select” and two other buttons 24 labeled with an up and down arrow respectively. The buttons 24 provide the user with a means of interfacing with the video display device 16. Upon pushing the “Menu” button 24, a menu is displayed, as shown in
The menu also includes a “Display” option, for which the user may select in order to control the format of the video display device 16, as shown in
Upon choosing how many lines the user wants to display, another sub-menu prompts the user to select from a list of available categories of information available for display upon each line as shown in
The embodiment of the layout menu shown provides the user the choice between displaying one or two lines of information using a default font, or one line of information using a large font. Accordingly, a user may customize an onboard vehicle display to show one or two lines of desired categories of information having a default font, or one line of desired categories of information in a larger font. However, it is anticipated that the layout menu may present more than two lines, with each line capable of displaying different categories of information. It is further anticipated that the font size may be automatically selected depending upon the number of lines of driver information selected such that the font size of one line of information is automatically displayed in a larger font than when two or more lines of information are chosen. Conversely, the font size may automatically change to a size smaller than the default font when the user chooses more than two lines of information. A user desiring to have no information appear may elect to do so by navigating through the menu using the input device 22 until the highlighting feature is over an option which displays no information.
Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings and may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described while within the scope of the appended claims. In addition, the reference numerals in the claims are merely for convenience and are not to be read in any way as limiting.
Claims
1. A system for providing a customizable display of vehicle and driver information in a vehicle having a plurality of sensors; the plurality of sensors monitoring and collecting signals regarding vehicle functions, the system comprising:
- at least one processor receiving signals from the plurality of sensors and designating the signals as being selectable information or fixed information, the processor further operable to process the signals to generate a list, the list having a plurality of predetermined categories of information;
- a video display device having a predetermined size, the video display device disposed on an instrument panel of the vehicle, the video display device in communication with the processor, the video display device having a fixed display portion and a selectable display portion smaller than the fixed display portion, the fixed display portion automatically adjusting the size of images so as to fit the images within the entire fixed display portion;
- a menu displayed on the selectable display portion of the video display device, the menu presenting the list having the plurality of predetermined categories of vehicle information, the menu further including a selection of a predetermined number of font sizes; and
- an input device operable by a user to select desired categories of vehicle information from the list having the plurality of predetermined categories of vehicle information for viewing on the selectable display portion and the fixed display portion of the video display device, the input device further operable by the user to select one font size from the selection of predetermined number of font sizes for which the selected category of vehicle information is displayed on the selectable display portion of the video display device, the processor automatically adjusting the size of the selected fixed information for display on the fixed display portion, so as to maximize the size of the selected fixed information displayed within the fixed display portion.
2. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the input device being a plurality of buttons operable to actuate the menu and select at least one predetermined category of information from the list of the predetermined categories of information.
3. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the input device is voice activated and operable to actuate the menu and select predetermined categories of information by verbal commands.
4. A method for providing a customizable video display device for viewing driver information in a vehicle having a plurality of sensors monitoring and collecting predetermined categories of vehicle information, the method comprising:
- providing a processor for receiving and processing the predetermined categories of vehicle information, the processor being in communication with the customizable video display device;
- providing a customizable video display device with a fixed display portion and a selectable display portion, the fixed display portion being larger than the selectable display portion;
- displaying a menu on the selectable display portion of the customizable video display device, the menu presenting a list of the predetermined categories of information and a selection of font sizes;
- providing an input device operable to select one of the predetermined categories of information from the list of predetermined categories of information and to select one of the font sizes from the selection of font sizes;
- selecting one of the predetermined categories of information from the list having the predetermined categories of information;
- selecting one of the font sizes from the selection of font sizes; and displaying the selected predetermined categories of information in the font size selected by the operator on selectable display portion of the customizable video display device.
5. A method as set forth in claim 4, wherein the processor is further operable to designate the predetermined categories of vehicle information as being a fixed information or a selectable information, the customizable video display device automatically displaying the fixed information for viewing on the fixed display portion of the customizable video display device.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Jan 9, 2008
Date of Patent: Feb 15, 2011
Patent Publication Number: 20090174537
Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. (Erlanger, KY)
Inventors: Christopher L. Rovik (Canton, MI), Fred W. Lupton, III (Saline, MI)
Primary Examiner: Davetta W Goins
Attorney: Gifford, Krass, Sprinkle, Anderson & Citkowski, P.C.
Application Number: 11/971,226
International Classification: B60Q 1/00 (20060101);